Does anyone know Melbourne well?

the dee

Hi,

Me and the boyfriend will be moving to Melbourne for a while in July. Just wondering if anyone knows what are nice areas to live in? We'll be looking for a flat / house-sharing to rent for at least 6 months. We'd like to be close to the city centre, in a studenty / backpacker kind of area. Close to pubs, shops etc. Obviously nothing too swanky but fairly safe and cheap is what we want.

We've had Collingwood suggested to us but neither of us have any idea what the different suburbs are like.

Can anyone recommend some areas to look in?

cobweb

FItzroy/ Carlton area is good

Basically main street in Melbourne is Bourke Street at top of which are parliament buildings

Go up Bourke Street turn left walk for about 10 minutes and you are in fitzroy Carlton. I lived here for 6 months started off in hostel called The Nunnery Private Hotel 116 Nicholson Street to get my bearings
close to town

My aunt thought Brunswickwasnt a great area but I never had a problem and there is a great coffee scene late night scene in the the Brunswick area and a great salsa club called The Bullring on Johnston Street if its still there. Black cat cafe and Totally weird ****- a book shop both located in Brunswick

But basically Melbourne is a grid design and there are trams running on the grid so you are close to anywhere with the tram purple ones are free and one is a dining cart for dinner at night

You could also live out in St. Kilda along the beachfront which has a good scene with some great live bars, Saturday market and tram into town think its the 98 goes up Nicholsom Street.The Espy was one dont know if its still there. The Secret Life of Us an australian tv series from 2001 was shot in and around St.Kilda

I would suggest going to a hostel and getting your bearings for a week or 2 then get an apartment as you will also be able to get low down form other long term backpackers on the areas and locals

Collinswoood is ok good to supprt their footy team as they are one of the best.

TestTransmission

cobweb wrote: »

FItzroy/ Carlton area is good

Basically main street in Melbourne is Bourke Street at top of which are parliament buildings

Go up Bourke Street turn left walk for about 10 minutes and you are in fitzroy Carlton. I lived here for 6 months started off in hostel called The Nunnery Private Hotel 116 Nicholson Street to get my bearings
close to town

My aunt thought Brunswickwasnt a great area but I never had a problem and there is a great coffee scene late night scene in the the Brunswick area and a great salsa club called The Bullring on Johnston Street if its still there. Black cat cafe and Totally weird ****- a book shop both located in Brunswick

But basically Melbourne is a grid design and there are trams running on the grid so you are close to anywhere with the tram purple ones are free and one is a dining cart for dinner at night

You could also live out in St. Kilda along the beachfront which has a good scene with some great live bars, Saturday market and tram into town think its the 98 goes up Nicholsom Street.The Espy was one dont know if its still there. The Secret Life of Us an australian tv series from 2001 was shot in and around St.Kilda

I would suggest going to a hostel and getting your bearings for a week or 2 then get an apartment as you will also be able to get low down form other long term backpackers on the areas and locals

Collinswoood is ok good to supprt their footy team as they are one of the best.

Lived in St Kilda for 4/5 months when i was in Oz last year,great place.
Quick walk to the beach,great bars,internet cafes,pizza places,full of backpackers.Alot of the accomadation is quite dinghy tho.
And the espy was there a year ago,great spot

Meathlass

Yeah lived in St Kilda too (in the red light area but still was fine, nice bedsit, bit small but perfect for a couple). Great pubs, clubs, cheap restaurants and the beach down the road. About 20 mins from town on the tram.

Larianne

Try and rent anywhere in Prahran/Windsor area. I lived there for 8 months and still miss the place. You're right near Chapel Street which is a trendy shopping/cafe/bar area (quite like Brunswick street but on a different side of the city). The train station and tram lines are both near by. And it's a short tram ride to St.Kilda beach.

I wouldn't recommend St. Kilda though. Yeah, so it's where a lot of the backpackers go but for what you're getting it's way overpriced and the beach isn't that nice. I lived there when I first got to Melbourne and thought it was a hole! Prostitutes and druggies on every corner. Couldn't wait to get outta there!!

I absolutely love Melbourne though! There is so much to do there. It's really big on sport as well. There's always a concert or arts festival or.... Australia's Next Top Dog on(yes, stumbled across this! so funny).

The further out of the city the cheaper it is. So anywhere around Monash University would be cheap aswell and it's on the train line.

Go the PIES!!!!!!!!!:D

Spud83

Larianne wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend St. Kilda though. Yeah, so it's where a lot of the backpackers go but for what you're getting it's way overpriced and the beach isn't that nice. I lived there when I first got to Melbourne and thought it was a hole! Prostitutes and druggies on every corner. Couldn't wait to get outta there!!

Ah the druggies and prostitutes add character.

We lived in St.Kilda for about 4 months, absolutley loved it add we lived just off hooker street (grey street). I would recommend it to anyone. Plenty of accom around there area, good night life, half decent beach, nice little shopping street with nice places to eat etc. Giant park just beside you. Easy travel into the city centre. Plent of backpackers and hostels where you will make other friends in no time.

One thing I would say though is why are you going to Melbourne at that time of year. It will be the middle of Australias winter and you are going to the coldest city?

Meathlass

alanmurphy83 wrote: »

Ah the druggies and prostitutes add character.

We lived in St.Kilda for about 4 months, absolutley loved it add we lived just off hooker street (grey street). I would recommend it to anyone. Plenty of accom around there area, good night life, half decent beach, nice little shopping street with nice places to eat etc. Giant park just beside you. Easy travel into the city centre. Plent of backpackers and hostels where you will make other friends in no time.

One thing I would say though is why are you going to Melbourne at that time of year. It will be the middle of Australias winter and you are going to the coldest city?

Lived on Grey St. too. I found it totally safe even though once when I was waiting to use phone box a guy in a car slowed down and then realised his mistake and drove on! It's not completely full of backpackers either, they're plenty of locals living there too.

Spud83

Meathlass wrote: »

Lived on Grey St. too. I found it totally safe even though once when I was waiting to use phone box a guy in a car slowed down and then realised his mistake and drove on! It's not completely full of backpackers either, they're plenty of locals living there too.

I was just off Grey street on Gurner street.

Never meant to suggest it was full of a backpackers just that there are plenty around. There are a good number of hostels in a small area. Plenty of locals alre and plenty of interesting characters. I

You can get a good mix there off meeting locals but also meeting like minded backpackers.

Larianne

I lived off Grey and Fitzroy Street in St. Kilda..... :eek: I wouldn't advise anyone to stay there to be honest. Seriously, if you had seen what you could get elsewhere for the price you were paying in St. Kilda, you wouldn't have stayed.

Anyways, Chapel Street in Prahran has it all... cafes, bars, clubs, shops, weird people going down the street wearing funny hats on rollerblades being pulled by a dog! hehe A mismash of everyone, plenty of entertainment and the train line runs by it so no packed tram (used to be squished on the no. 96 from st.kilda into town and that god awful St. Kilda Road!)

But each to their own...

Redbilby

Ok, so I am an aussie living in Ireland and my 2c worth is: Brunswick, Fitzroy, Collingwood, Carlton, Richmond, North Melbourne, Footscray are all north and west of the city centre in Melb, all good suburbs and as in any city with areas better than others. I would look at public transport and make sure you have decent late night service as well. Northside is sometimes cheaper than southside. That said Prahan, St Kilda etc are all great too if a little pricier. Same old caution applies: dont put yourself in a situation where you are not comfortable. All up, Melbourne is a terrific city with great transport and lots to do. Hope you enjoy it.